Honors Satisfactory Academic Progress

Honors Program students are subject to the Honors Program Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policies in addition to institutional policies and any divisional policies for a given major. Of these, the Honors Program SAP Policy has the most restrictive cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) criteria for good academic standing. The Honors Program SAP process is overseen by the Honors Program Director in consultation with the Honors Program Advisory Council (HPAC) and the Associate Provost.

Honors Program Good Academic Standing: Students who meet all Academic Standing requirements as noted in the Academic Standing Criteria section of the policy, in addition to institutional requirements, are considered to be in good academic standing for the Honors Program.

Cumulative GPA: Calculated as described in the Grading Policy.

Semester(s) Completed: Includes all Fall and Spring semesters where the student has completed the term.

Academic Standing Criteria

Evaluation of SAP for the Keuka College Honors Program is based on, at minimum, the following:

*Note: 3.50 is the institutional threshold for Dean’s List and for Latin Honors at graduation.

Other requirements for Honors Program SAP are aligned to institutional requirements as stated in the Policies on Academic Standing in the Keuka College Record. An Honors Program student who does not meet these institutional requirements will be placed on Honors Program Notice. A student who would be mathematically unable to regain Honors Program SAP within the allotted time frame may be dismissed from the Honors Program instead of receiving Honors Program Notice. Academic support for students who are on Honors Program Notice will be carefully aligned with division and institutional support, as relevant.

Actions for Students Not Meeting Honors Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The Keuka College Honors Program adheres to the following sequence for students not meeting Honors Program SAP. After each Fall and Spring term, the Honors Program Director will review Honors Program student progress with the HPAC and Registrar’s Office. Students in the Honors Program who do not meet Honors SAP will be assigned the following status:

Honors Program Notice
Received when a student fails to achieve Honors Program SAP in a given semester.

Impacts: Students on Honors Program Notice will be placed on an academic plan with enhanced advising and support. There are no financial aid implications, and the status is not noted on the student’s transcript. Students may appeal the Honors Program Notice status to the Honors Program Director. If the appeal is granted, the student will be considered in good academic standing for the Honors Program.

Honors Program Dismissal
Received when a student on Honors Program Notice does not achieve Honors SAP in any following semester.

Impacts: Students who are dismissed from the Honors Program will no longer participate in its activities and curriculum, and will no longer receive the Honors Program scholarship or housing. A student dismissed from the Honors Program will have the opportunity to appeal this action to the Honors Program Director. If the appeal is granted, the student will be moved to Appeal status and be allowed to continue as an Honors Program participant the following term under academic plan. If the appeal is not granted, the student will not be allowed to continue with Honors Program activities, and will not have their scholarship or Honors housing reinstated. Dismissal from the Honors Program is not noted on the student’s transcript.

Discretionary Actions
The actions for Honors Program SAP aim to support student success while upholding Honors Program standards. In some cases, the Honors Program Director and Advisory Council may recommend alternative actions appropriate for specific situations. Other actions may be taken at the discretion of the Honors Program Director, in consultation with the Associate Provost and HPAC, as well as divisional personnel as relevant. Discretionary GPA thresholds may be established in support of specific scenarios and student performance, particularly in the first year. In all cases, communication from the Honors Program Director will explain the reasons for the decision.

In the instances where a student requests to take a Summer, January, or Acadeum course to reinstate their eligibility for Honors Program activities, the student may have their academic progress assessed after the close of those terms. The Honors Program Director and HPAC will review the student’s case and make a determination. This review will not change any past action, and the student will be placed on an academic plan for the Honors Program.

Appeal Process
A student who is placed on Honors Program Notice, or who is dismissed from the Honors Program, has the right to appeal this decision to the Honors Program Director within ten (10) business days. An appeal form will be provided to the student in the official communication letter. The student must provide a thorough and compelling explanation of extenuating circumstances and attach supporting evidence, as well as indicate a plan for performance improvement. Once the appeal is received, the Honors Program Director will consult with HPAC and issue a decision within ten (10) business days. If the appeal is denied, the student may appeal to the Provost’s Office, which will issue a final decision within fifteen (15) business days.